Is Ryan McKenna our new Benny Ayala?

[rjslomo]

Will he hang around for the next 5 - 10 years as that extra outfielder/defensive replacement? Kinda like the backup qb in the NFL, might be one of the most lucrative jobs to have as far as compensation vs workload. Happy if this is the case.

[DocJJ]

Ayala- terrible fielder and slow.   McKenna great fielder and fast.

[RZNJ]

When he levels his swing and goes to CF and RF he's not half bad. When he tries to pull any kind of fastball he's awful.

[mikezpen]

Benny was kept for his bat, nothing else. McKenna is kept for everything else BUT his bat

[jdwilde1]

[DrungoHazewood]

On 8/2/2022 at 1:59 PM, DocJJ said:

Ayala- terrible fielder and slow.   McKenna great fielder and fast.

Right. Ayala was a prototypical 1970s-80s Earl Weaver player made possible by 9-man pitching staffs.  Ayala was a socially responsible Delmon Young.  His only real tool was an ability to hit left-handed pitching.

The Mets and Cards gave away Ayala because who needs a defensively suspect LF/RFer who OPSes .700?  Earl said who cares if he can't field, can't run and can't hit righties, I can use him for 150 at bats a year and sub him for a better fielder when we're ahead.